Very friendly people. The food is amazing. All homemade.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Plantains
S D
It is a CRIME that this place isn't better known! On the Western side of Antiques Row in Kensington, on Howard Avenue - an industrial street lined with auto repair shops and antique stores lies this lone little eatery run by some absolutely sweet Hispanic ladies who sing in the kitchen and make some absolutely great food! The Bamboo Cafe' is a real blue collar, working class lunch eatery. No pretense. No nonsense. Just a hole in the wall with a solid menu for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. Don't let the outside fool you. I was fortunate enough to wander in while my tires were being changed down the street. Maybe one of the more fortunate accidents I've ever had.
The menu is straight-forward. A mixture of Salvadoran and American foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Want breakfast? Eggs? Sausage? Bacon? Hash browns? Pancakes? French toast? Breakfast sandwiches? You're set! How about some fried plantains? Red beans? Tortillas? Tamales? Pupusas? No problem! Subs, burgers, wings, tacos, quesadillas, wings, fajitas, and carne asada all live peaceably next to each other on the menu. During lunch, much of this Salvadoran food is on a hot table and it can be dished up quickly for those on the run. I also noticed some items that weren't on the regular menu, like chicharron. It all smelled wonderful...and the prices were incredibly reasonable!
For my first visit to this place, I chose something very Salvadoran: Beef Soup (Sopa de Res) For anyone who has never had this, prepare for a REAL meal. Incredibly rich, clear, beefy broth with chunks of carrot, yuca, corn on the cob, green beans, plantain...and the most tender, braised beef short rib that you're likely to find anywhere. It's accompanied with a side of rice, jalapeno, and lime that can be added to the soup. Oh, yeah!! Also, two hot, fresh, thick corn tortillas! This is a SERIOUS meal! All for $10.99!
One more thing. There is often a tendency for non-Hispanics to avoid Salvadoran eateries. They often don't speak English or cater only to fellow Hispanics. Not the case here. While the majority of customers are Spanish-speaking, the management speaks wonderful English and the very sweet ladies are extremely hospitable and nice. That's why I saw folks of every race (including many from neighboring businesses) crowding in for lunch. So, don't be shy. The food and the friendliness here are first rate!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mo
Don’t be fooled by the pictures, nasty food!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Freddy Campos
Very good breakfast, ? I recommend this place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yerik
Absolutely amazing food! The pupusas are delicious, the chicken sandwiches are well made. 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michelle Brousek
Bern was awesome! So fun and great atmosphere! He offered us the best service and the drinks were fabulous. Benny the guitarist was fantastic!
Margaret Norris
Wonderful spot! Friendly, fairly priced, and excellent quality.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Teliesha
Food is always great & the customer service is excellent. We are always greeted warmly with a smile.
Kid-friendliness: My sensory-sensitive child was able to find food options they could eat.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Benjamin Walsh
I got a sausage egg and cheese bagel. And it was really good. The only problem here is there’s nowhere to park.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gustavo Adolfo Rivas Ortiz
Small, varied and delicious food, excellent service, comfortable prices.
Disgusting food, I don't know why they start selling if they can't make it. The lady is very angry. They sell rice pudding with a pound of sugar and the typical breakfast. The eggs had a bag of salt that rattled in your teeth. I asked her how to fix it. the sweetness of the rice pudding and the tap water I would never buy there again. Learn to serve customers because these businesses survive and the menu in the photos has nothing to do with what they sell. Do not consume here, there are places with better food and better service.
Tina Pereira
They have a buffet available and ready to go, but can also order and wait or order ahead and pick up.
Parking: Maybe one or two parking spaces available, right at front.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Molly Chomas
I went for the first time yesterday! I got a burger and fries. The burger was fresh and hand made and the crinkle fries was a generous portion. They were both excellent and fair priced! I would definitely go back!
Very friendly people. The food is amazing. All homemade.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Plantains
It is a CRIME that this place isn't better known! On the Western side of Antiques Row in Kensington, on Howard Avenue - an industrial street lined with auto repair shops and antique stores lies this lone little eatery run by some absolutely sweet Hispanic ladies who sing in the kitchen and make some absolutely great food! The Bamboo Cafe' is a real blue collar, working class lunch eatery. No pretense. No nonsense. Just a hole in the wall with a solid menu for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. Don't let the outside fool you. I was fortunate enough to wander in while my tires were being changed down the street. Maybe one of the more fortunate accidents I've ever had.
The menu is straight-forward. A mixture of Salvadoran and American foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Want breakfast? Eggs? Sausage? Bacon? Hash browns? Pancakes? French toast? Breakfast sandwiches? You're set! How about some fried plantains? Red beans? Tortillas? Tamales? Pupusas? No problem! Subs, burgers, wings, tacos, quesadillas, wings, fajitas, and carne asada all live peaceably next to each other on the menu. During lunch, much of this Salvadoran food is on a hot table and it can be dished up quickly for those on the run. I also noticed some items that weren't on the regular menu, like chicharron. It all smelled wonderful...and the prices were incredibly reasonable!
For my first visit to this place, I chose something very Salvadoran: Beef Soup (Sopa de Res) For anyone who has never had this, prepare for a REAL meal. Incredibly rich, clear, beefy broth with chunks of carrot, yuca, corn on the cob, green beans, plantain...and the most tender, braised beef short rib that you're likely to find anywhere. It's accompanied with a side of rice, jalapeno, and lime that can be added to the soup. Oh, yeah!! Also, two hot, fresh, thick corn tortillas! This is a SERIOUS meal! All for $10.99!
One more thing. There is often a tendency for non-Hispanics to avoid Salvadoran eateries. They often don't speak English or cater only to fellow Hispanics. Not the case here. While the majority of customers are Spanish-speaking, the management speaks wonderful English and the very sweet ladies are extremely hospitable and nice. That's why I saw folks of every race (including many from neighboring businesses) crowding in for lunch. So, don't be shy. The food and the friendliness here are first rate!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don’t be fooled by the pictures, nasty food!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Very good breakfast, ? I recommend this place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely amazing food! The pupusas are delicious, the chicken sandwiches are well made. 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bern was awesome! So fun and great atmosphere! He offered us the best service and the drinks were fabulous. Benny the guitarist was fantastic!
Wonderful spot! Friendly, fairly priced, and excellent quality.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is always great & the customer service is excellent. We are always greeted warmly with a smile.
Kid-friendliness: My sensory-sensitive child was able to find food options they could eat.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I got a sausage egg and cheese bagel. And it was really good. The only problem here is there’s nowhere to park.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Small, varied and delicious food, excellent service, comfortable prices.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Disgusting food, I don't know why they start selling if they can't make it. The lady is very angry. They sell rice pudding with a pound of sugar and the typical breakfast. The eggs had a bag of salt that rattled in your teeth. I asked her how to fix it. the sweetness of the rice pudding and the tap water I would never buy there again. Learn to serve customers because these businesses survive and the menu in the photos has nothing to do with what they sell. Do not consume here, there are places with better food and better service.
They have a buffet available and ready to go, but can also order and wait or order ahead and pick up.
Parking: Maybe one or two parking spaces available, right at front.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
I went for the first time yesterday! I got a burger and fries. The burger was fresh and hand made and the crinkle fries was a generous portion. They were both excellent and fair priced! I would definitely go back!
Loved my chicken avocado sandwich!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Hole in the wall, decent food
Parking: Bad location. No parking
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
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